Centrifugal babbitting machine



July 3, 1928.

I L. W. MOULTON ET AL CENTRIFUGA BAEJBITTING MACHINE 6, 717% T TORNE 3 Sheets-Sheet Filed May 5, 1927 July 3, 1928. 1,675,657

L. w. MOULTON ET AL CENTRIFUGAL BAB BITTING MACHINE Filed May 5, 1927 s Sheets-Sheet 2 July 3, 1928.

1,675,657 L. W. MOULTON ET AL I CENTRIFUGAL BABBITTING MACHINE Filed May 5, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IIIIIIIIII IIIIIIIII Patented July 3, I

LLOYD W. MOULTON AND OSCAR C. KAVLE OI SYRACUSE,

PATENT OFFICE.

NEW YORK.

CENTRIFUGAL BABBITTING MACHINE.

Application filed May 3, 1927. Serial No. 188,478.

This invention relates to a centrifugal babbitting machine for casting Babbitt metal bearings 01' linings in journal boxes and other hollow objects by pouring the molten metal into the hollow object and 'simulta-.

neously rotating the latter at a sufliciently high rate of speed to cause the molten metal to impinge against the inner walls of the ob-\ ject and to gradually build up by centrifugal force as the pouring continues until the desired thickness of the babbitt is attained leaving a central cylindrical bore of pro-determined diameter according to the amount of molten metal introduced into the hollow object.

j The main object is to provide a more compact, expeditious and efficient method of and apparatus for casting babbitt' or equivalent metal linings or bearings in hollow objects 29 than has heretofore been practised.

One of the specific objects is to provide means for supporting and rotating the work about a horizontal axis with the axis of the portion of the object to be lined substantially coincident with its axis of rotation so as to produce a uniform distribution of the molten metal lining circumferentially around and within the work.

Another object is to enable the work to be clamped and released upon and from the rotarysupporting member and also to enable the rotary member to be started and sto ped at will from one and the same side 0 the machine and within easy reaching distance of the operator when pouring the molten metal into the work.

Other objects and uses relating to specific parts of the machine will be brought out in the following description.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a centrifugal babbitting machine embodying various features of the invention.

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken in the plane of line 2-2, Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical sectional View taken in the plane of line 33, Figure 1, except that portions of the fan or blower case and adjacent parts are broken away.

This machine is adapted to be used more particularly for casting Babbitt metal linlngs in the journals of connecting rods or pitmen commonly'used in piston engines or pumps for transmitting motion from a rotary crank shaft to the may be used for casting in other hollow objects.

As illustrated, the machine comprises a hollow upright column or base 1- upon which is pivotally mounted-at -2- a horizontal shelf 3- carrying a hollow case section 4 and a circular shield section -5, the case section '4 and shield'section 5 being bolted or otherwise secured to the upper face of the shelf section .--3 to form a substantially unitary part thereof.

The pivotal connections -2 between the base section -1- and shelf section 3 are preferably located at one side of both of similar metal linings those parts to permit the shelf section with the various other parts carried thereby to be tilted laterally to and from a position across the upper end of the base section 1, the opening tilting movement of the shelf section being limited by a cable connection -6 between the parts -1 and -3 as shown in Figure 1.

The case section 4 is located mainly at the rear of the machine and is provided with a removablecap section -4'- which is joined to the section 4 in approximately the horizontal plane of the axis of the rotary work-supporting shaft hereinafter described.

The s upright position mainly at the front of the machine and co-axial with the work-supporting shaft previously mentioned to protect the.

operator against contact with the revolving work.

A horizontal shaft -7-- is journaled in piston but obviouslyleld section 5 is arranged in an.

suitable bearings 8 in the upper portion of the frame section 4- to extend forwardly and rearwardly of the frame. and

carries at its forward end a circular wheel or disk 9- having its hub -10- projecting rearwardly therefrom and keyed or otherwise secured to the adjacent end of the shaft -7-- to rotate therewith directly in front of the front bearing 8.

The front end of the hub -10- is recessed to receive a nut 11 -which engages the adjacent threaded end of the shaft 7- to assist in holding the wheel --9 against forward displacement from the shaft.

The front end of the wheel 9 is also provided with a central recess for receiving the rear end of a forwardly projecting workclamping ring 12- which is bolted or otherwise secured to the wheel 9 to rotate therewith and is provided with a central opening 13-,gradually increasing in diameter from front to rear to form what may be termed an air and gas chamber.

The hub of the wheel -9- is provided with a circular row of air and gas passages 14 leading from the rear end of the chamber -l3-. rearwardly and outwardly to the rear face of the wheel at the outside of its hub as shown in Figure 1 to permit the escape of air and gas from the molten metal during the casting operation.

A fan or blower -15- is secured to the rear face of the wheel 9- around the hub -10 and circular row of passages -14-- with its suction side communicating with said passages for circulating the air and gases from the mold and discharging them through openings 15' in the periphery. of the fan.

The case section -4 is provided with a hub -16- projecting forwardly therefrom toward the fan -15 and concentric with the shaft 7 for receiving and supporting the front bearing -10- and also for additionally supportlng the rear end of the hub of the wheel 9 A ring 17 is slidable lengthwise of and upon the hub 16 just at the rear of the fan 15- and is provided with a plurality of, in this instance three, forwardly rojecting bolts 18 arranged in uniormly spaced relation circumferentially around and beyond the periphery of the clamping ring -12 so as to extend some distance forwardly beyond the front end of said ring for receiving and supporting an additional clamping plate -19-.

The intermediate portions of these bolts -18- are reciprocall movable forwardly and rearwardly in suitable guide bushings -20 which are firmly secured in openings in the wheel -9 to extend forward therefrom as shown in Figure 1.

The rear ends of the bolts extend through the interior of the fan 15 and are firmly secured to-the ring 17 which, as reviously stated, is movable axially and e ects a corresponding axial movement of a front clamping plate -19- through the medium of the bolts 18-.

Suitable coiled springs '21- are inter- 4 posed between the plate 7 and rear ends.

20 around the adjacent of the bushin e bolts -18 for automatiportions of t cally forcing the ring -17, bolts -18- and clamping plate -19- rearwardly to cause the clamping plate 19 to yieldingly clamp the work against the front face of the companion plate 12- as shown by dotted lines in Figure 1.

The front clamping late --19 is provided with a rearwar ly tapered circular opening -22- co-axial with the axis of the shaft 7 for receiving the molten babbitt or other metal which is to form the inne lining or journal bearing of the hollow portion of the work as, for example, a connecting rod or pitman aas shown by dotted lines in Figure 1.

The portion of the pitman which is to receive the molten metal lining is usually divided diametricall but is provided with a more or less circu ar opening therethrough which, when the work is placed in operative position, is alined with the axis of the shaft 7- and, therefore, with the openings 13 and -22- in the clamping plates -12- and 19 respectively.

The outer ends of the pitmen are usually provided with openings for connection with the coupling pins on the piston and in order that the pitman may be held against angular movement relatively to the wheel9 during the casting operation, said wheel is provided with a forwardly projecting stud 23 adapted to enter the opening in the outer end of thc pitman -w-. as shown in Figure 1. r

The clamping member -19 is provided with rearwardly projecting sleeves E524?- surrounding the adjacent portions of the bolts -18 and telescoping with the front ends of the bushings 20- to assist in guiding said head in its forward and rearward movements.

The wheel -9 and its clamping members 12 and -19 carried thereby con- O'Zamp opening means.

A cross shaft 25- is journaled in suitable bearings 26- Figure 3, on the case section 4 and is provided with a'pair of crank arms 27 extending upwardly therefrom at opposite sides of the hub -16 for engaging the rear face of the plate An additional shaft 28- is journaled in a sleeve -29 on the case section -4 in a plane below and parallel with the shaft -25 and is provided with a crank arm 30- connected by a link 31 to an additional crank arm 32- on the shaft 25 as shown more clearly in Figure 3.

This shaft -28 extends beyond the outer end of its bearing sleeve -29- and is provided with a hand lever 33- by which it may be rocked at will for moving the clamping member -19- forwardly against the action of its retracting springs 2l as, for example, when placing the work in operative position between the clamping members for casting the Babbitt metal lining therein and for removing the work when the casting operation is com- I a shaft -7-- and is pleted, it being understood that the springs -21- are sufiiciently strong to hold the work firmly between the clamping members.

, Driving and controlling means. A stationary brake drum 34 is secured to the inner face of the front portion of the case -4- co-axial with and around the provided with an inner conical friction face --34 projecting rearwardly forengagement with a suitable clutch member presently described.

A pulley -B5 is loosely journaled upon bearings 36 on the shaft -7- at the rear of and in axially spaced relation to the brake drum 34- and has its front end provided with a conical friction. face-" adapted to be engaged by the clutch member previously mentioned.

A clutch member -38 is splined on the shaft -7 between the brake drum -34- and pulley -35+ for axial movement thereon and also to rotate therewith and has its opposite ends provided with conical friction faces -39-- and 40 adapted to engage the inner friction faces 34: and -35'- of the brake drum -34 and pulley 35- respectively as the clutch member 38 is shifted axially in reverse directions for stopping and starting the rotation of the shaft -7- and work-holder carried thereby.

The spline connection between the clutch member 38- and shaft,-7- preferably consists of a key 41- seated in suitable key-ways in the shaft7 and hub of the 7 clearly in Figure 2.

clutch-member "-38- as shown in Figure 2.

Glutck shifting mam.

I The rear end of the shaft 7-- is hollow to form a central lengthwise ide opening 42 for receiving front an rear plunger sections -43- and -44 which are arranged co-axially end to end for relative endwise movement and are yieldingly connected by an interposed coiled spring 45 for a urpose presently described, the rear end of the front section -43- being re-' duced in diameter and extended into a corresponding socket in the adjacent front end of the rear section -44- as shown more The front plunger section 4 .3 is oper atively connected to the hub of the clutch member -38 by means of a pin 45. which passes through an elon ated slot 46 in the adjacent portion 0 the shaft -7- to allow suflicient endwise movement of the clutch member to engage and dis engage the conical faces of the brake drum 34 and pulley -35.

The adjacent ends of the'plunger sections -43- and 44 are splined to each other by means of a pin -47 on the rear reduced end of the section 43'- engaging mitting adjustment to either of the in a lengthwise slot -48 in the adjacent portion of the section 44- thereby causing both plunger sections to rotate in unison and at the same time permitting limited endwise movement of the plunger section 43.

The rear end of the shaft -7 is threaded and engaged by a nut 50 .which in turn engages the adjacent rear end face of the case 4 to hold the shaft against forward movement, said shaft being also provided at its rear end with a socket of relatively larger diameter than the plunger section 4 t for receivin a coiled spring -51 surrounding the ad acent portion of said plunger section 44--.

The plunger section 4 1- is provided with a reduced threaded extension beyond the rear end of the shaft -7 engaged by suitable nuts 52 against which the rear end of the spring -5lis adapted to rest, said extension being also provided at its rear end with an end-thrust bearing 53 as shown in Figure 1.

A bell-crank lever 54 is pivoted at +55- to the rear side of the case -4 to extend vertically therefrom and has its upper end engaged with the rear face of the end-thrust bearing 53 and its lower end connected b a link 56 to a crank arm 57- Whic 1 is rigidly clamped to the inner end of the sleeve -Q9 to extend rearwardly' therefrom as shown in Figures 1 and 3.

The outer end of the sleeve -29 is rovided with an end lever 58 by which the sleeve and its crank arm -57 may be rocked or adjusted angularly for movin the plunger sections 44 and 43 emf wise against the action of the spring 51- and thereby effecting a corresponding movement of the clutch member -38 into ening bracket 62 on the case section 4- as shown in Figure 1 whereby the lever 57 and parts actuated thereby may be yieldingly held in its two extreme positions of adjustment while at the same time perextreme positions as may be required for stopping and starting the rotation of the shaft 7-' and work-holder carried thereby.

The lever 57 is provided with a stop -63- adapted to engage an-overlying portion 64- of the case section 4- for limiting the movement of the lever and loo parts operated thereby to one position against the action of the retracting spring 51-.

The hub of said lever -57- is provided with a-stop 65- adapted to engage an underlying screw 66 on the bracket 62 to limit the movement of the lever in the opposite direction under the action of the spring ,51, the screw 66- being adjustable to assure the engagement of the clutch member 38- with the pulley A motor -67 is mounted upon the underside of the shelf or table 3-- for movement therewith into and out of the upper end of the column 1, said motor having its armature shaft provided with a pulley -68- which is connected by a belt -69- to the pulley 35 on the shaft -7-.

A belt tightener 70- is supported by a pivoted arm 71 on the motor case for effecting a motor positive driving of the supporting shaft for the work-holder.

Operation.

In casting the bearin or lining in the hollow work as -a t e lever 33- is first operated to open the clamping member 19 forwardly away from its companion clamping member -12- after which the hollow part of the work to which the lining is to be cast is placed between the clamping members -12- and -19- with its axis substantially co-incident with the axis of the shaft 7 and if the work is a pitman, the outer end of the pitman will be engaged with a stud 23 after which the pressure upon the lever -33 is released to allow the springs 21 to operate the clamping member -19 for clamping the work between said member and its companion clamping member 12--.

During th1s reparation of the work for casting the linin therein the lever 58 will have been a justed to hold the clutch member 38 into frictional engagement with the brake drum -34: and out of engagement with the pulle 35- to prevent the rotation of the wor -holder.

When the work is properly clamped in the work-holder in the manner described the hand lever -58 will be adjusted to withdraw the clutch member -38- from engagement with the brake drum 3L and to engage it with the then rotating pulley 35 for transmitting rotary motion to the shaft 7- and to the work-holder and to the work carried thereby.

While the work-holder with the work therein is being rotated a pre-determined quantit of molten metal as may be required to pro uce the desired thickness of the lining is poured through the inlet opening 22 in the clamping member '-19- and thence into the interior of the hollow portion of the work in which the lining is tobe cast.

The molten metal-will, of course, be deposited by its own gravity upon the lower side of the openin in the work and as the work is rotated Wlll be drawn out by cenof course, be suflicient to cause the molten metal to firmly impinge a ainst the walls of the opening in the wor and to gradually build up inwardly and uniformly about the axis of rotation until the molten metal has cooled sufficiently to retain its form.

During this casting operation any air or gas which may be present in the mold or hollow work will be drawn out and expelled to the exterior of the machine by the rotation of the fan 15.

This entire casting operation requires but a very short time and produces a lining of uniform thickness with a substantially cylindrical opening therethrough which may be quickly and accurately finished by boring if desired.

When the casting operation is complete the lever 58 is readjusted to disengage the clutch member 38 from the pulley -35- and to ree'ngage it with the brake drum 34 for stopping the rotation of the work after which the lever 33 may be adjusted to release the clamping head .19 and allow the work to be withdrawn from its holder, the machine being then ready for a repetition of the operation just described.

What we claim is:

1. In a metal casting machine, a workholder having co-axial clamping members rotatable about a horizontal axis and provided with co-axial openings for permitting the entrance of molten metal into the work and for allowing air to escape from the work respectively, said members being relatively movable axially to grip and release the work, and a fan rotating with the workholder and having its suction side connected to the air opening.

2. In a metal casting machine, a frame, a horizontal shaft journaled on the frame, a work-holder secured to the shaft and provided with a co-axial inlet for molten metal, a stationary brakadrum and a rotary loose pulley arranged in axially spaced relation co-axial with the shaft, a clutch-member vided with a co-axial inlet for molten metal, a stationary brake drum and a rotary loose pulley arranged in axially spaced relation coaxial with the shaft, a clutch-member splined on the shaft, and means for moving the clutch-member axially into and out of engagement with the pulley and brakedrum, said means having a portion thereof slidable endwise in a central lengthwise opening in the shaft.

4. In a metal casting machine, a frame, a horizontal shaft journaled on the frame, a work-holder secured to the shaft and provided with a co-axial inlet for molten metal, a stationary brake drum and a rotary loose pulley arranged in axially spaced relation co-axial with the shaft, a clutch-member splined on the shaft, and means for moving the clutch-member axially into and out of engagement with the pulley and brakedrum, said means including a hand-lever and resilient connections between the hand 'co-axial with the work-holder, a rotary clutch-member movable axially into and out of engagement with the pulley and brakedrum, means for transmitting rotary motion from the clutch-member to the .workholder, and means for shifting the clutch member axially. I v .7 v 1 6. In a metal castin machine, workholder parts rotatable a out a horizontal axis and relatively movable for holding and releasing the work, one of said parts having out of a co-axial opening for permitting the entrance of molten metal into the work, a stationary brake drum and a rotary loose pulley arranged in axially spaced relation co-axial with the work-holder, a rotary clutch-member movable axiall into and out of engagement with the pul ey and brake drum, means for transmitting rotary motion from the clutch-member to the work-holder, hand-levers movable about a common axis, means for transmitting motion from one of the levers to one of the axially movable parts of the work-holder, and means actuated by the other lever for shifting the clutch-member axially.

7 In a centrifugal babbitting machine, a frame, a horizontal shaft journaled on the frame, a wheel secured to the shaft and provided with a work-engaging stud some distance from its axis, work-clamping members mounted on the wheel coaxial therewith and provided respectively with a coaxial molten-metal inlet and a coaxial airand-gas outlet, one of said clamping members being spring-pressed toward the other, a rotary fan carried by the wheel and having its suction side connected to the airand-gas outlet, means operable at will for shifting the movable clamping member axially away from its companion member, a non-rotatable brake-drum and a rotary loose pulley arranged in axially spaced relation co-axial with said shaft, means for rotating the pulley, a clutch member splined on the shaft and movable axially into and engagement with the pulley and brake-drum, and means operable at will for shifting the clutch member axially.

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands this 25th day of April, 1927.

OSCAR C. KAVLE. LLOYD W. MOULTON. 

